BCT Editorial – 10/17/08

This page was last updated on October 18, 2008.

Double check; Editorial; Beaver County Times; October 17, 2008.

The editorial subtitle is “Voter registration fraud shouldn’t be overlooked or overblown.”

This is yet another editorial in which the Times wants it both ways. In one sentence the editorial asks, “If ACORN officials are aware of this situation, why don’t they do a better job of monitoring these workers and more rigorously review the voter registration forms before they are turned in?” In two other sentences, however, the editorial tells us the problem “is more about slipshod supervision and lazy workers than it is voter fraud” and the result of “some lazy people who might choose to sit at a McDonald’s and fill out the forms themselves.”

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the recipient of in excess of $800,000 from the Obama campaign during the primary, is currently under investigation in at least 13 states, by Democrat and Republican officials alike. This has been a recurring problem since at least 2004.

Here’s my opinion. I believe the Times actually applauds ACORN’s efforts, but knows it cannot say so in public. Instead, the Times publishes this editorial giving ACORN a slight slap on the wrist while telling us “the impact on the election would be minimal at best.” And if a particular election comes down to a few votes? Hmm, I guess the Times forgot about that – not.

This editorial continues the Times relatively “What, me worry?” attitude toward voter fraud. As noted, the Times has no problem with a voter needing to provide ID (not even a photo) only when he votes for the very first time and opposed a bill that would have tightened up ID requirements. The title of that editorial? “Ignore the hype.” Sound familiar?